Filter assemblies



April s, 1958 G. A. BRACE 2,829,734

FILTER ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, .1954

G. A. BRACE FILTER ASSEMBLIES April s, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March10, 1954 April 8, 1958 G. A. BRACE FILTER ASSEMBLIES- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March 10, 1954 United States Patent FILTER ASSEMBLIES George A.Brace, San Carlos, Calif., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 10, 1954, Serial No.415,254

7 Claims. (U. 18351) to certain disadvantages such as being diflicult tooperate" at times and subject to jamming if the filter bag or some otherobject becomes caught in the fastenermechanism.

Moreover, and of particular importance, this conventional fastener iscostly and must be installed with considerable care for properfunctioning.

The present invention provides a greatly simplified appearance bagfeaturing a closure which avoids the above mentioned and otherdisadvantages of prior closure arrangernents for filter assembliesandparticularly the hookless fastener type of closure while exhibitingnew features and advantages. Thus, the present invention contemplates anarrangement wherein prior types of fasteners are eliminated and in whichthe access opening is closed or opened merely by tensioning or relaxingthe edges of the access opening lengthwise thereof. This opening extendslongitudinally of the envelope with one end anchored to the cleaner bodyor its exhaust outlet and the upper end resiliently connected to anupper portion of the propelling handle through a readily disconnectabletension spring. So long as the spring is connected to the handle, itholds the edges of the access opening taut and closed against oneanother. By relaxing the spring tension, the edges are instantly andautomatically rendered free for unrestrained opening. In otherwords, myclosure device is closed and opened merely by tensioning or relaxing theopposite edges of the opening.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a newfilter assembly for a suction cleaner which is simpler in construction,less expensive, more convenient to open and close and of greater utilitythan prior. constructions.

Another object is the provision of an appearance envelope for a filterassembly having an access opening which can be closed and opened merelyby tensioning or relaxing the opposite side edges of the opening.

Still another object is the provision of a suction cleaner having afilter assembly resiliently suspended from the propelling handle andnormally making use of the resilient suspending means to open or closethe filter access opening. 1 7

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will becomereadily apparent from the following detailed specification of twoillustrative embodiments taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevationaljview of a floor type suction cleanerincorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of thefilterassembly taken from thepropelling handle side thereof and showing certain constructionaldetails; 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the filterassembly taken along line 3-3 on Figure 1 with portions of the filteradapter in section and other portions in full lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the filter assembly taken alongline 44.on Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the top of theappearance bag taken from the side thereof facing the propelling handle;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment with portionsof the appearance envelope broken away to show the disposable filterbefore inflation; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the filter assembly taken along line 7-7on Figure 6.

A preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a mainbody 10 having a downwardly opening suction nozzle 11 across its forwardend and supported by a pair of front carrier wheels 12 and a pair ofrear wheels 13. A propelling handle 14 having a bail 15 at its lower endis pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the main body by pivotpins 16. A snap action switch 17 carried by the handle adjacent its handgrip controls the usual electric driving motor not shownbut concealedwithin the main body.

It will, of course, be understood that the electric service cord 18 isconnected to the motor and switch 17 in the usual manner.

The filter assembly generally designated 19 is shown in Figure l asextending along and to one side'of the propelling handle with its upperend resiliently supported therefrom by a tension spring 20 while itsouter end is swivelly connected to the exhaust air conduit in a mannerwhich will be described more fully presently. As will be best understoodby reference to Figure 3, the filter assembly comprises an outer clothappearance bag 22, a paper filter bag 23 and a filteradapter tubeassembly generally designated 24. The filter adapter assembly fitstelescopicallyover the outer end of the exhaust air conduit 21 which, asherein illustrated, opens laterally through the side of the cleaner bodyand from the periphery of the suction fan casing housed therewithin. Thefan chamber extends transversely of the cleaner body and has an inleteye in its forward wall opening into the suction air passageway whichextends downwardly into the suction nozzle 11 in accordance withcustomary practice. A radial type fan of well known construction ishoused within the fan chamber and is mounted directly on the shaft ofthe driving motor housed within the rear end of the cleaner body.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the filteradapter 24 comprises an elbow 25 having its inlet end telescope over theend of discharge conduit 21 and secured thereto by a set screw 26. Thedischarge end 27 of the elbow preferably projects upwardly andrearwardly of the cleaner in general alignemnt with the usual inclinedoperating position of handle 14. A flexible rubber bellows 28 has itslower end locked in place on the upper end of the elbow as by a clamp29. Secured within the outlet end of the bellows by a clamp 30 is a thinwalled filter seating tube 31 having an elongated channel or depression32 extending along its Wall at a point opposite the propelling handle.Depression 32 terminates short of the ends of the tube and preferablyhas.

a low height locator and retaining boss 33 projecting upwardly from itsbottom and positioned to register and seat within an opening formed inthe Wall of the filter inlet neck when the filter is properly positionedon tube 31.

The filter clamp comprises a. leaf spring 34 having its H lower end 35riveted or otherwise anchored to the wall of a tube 31 at a pointadjacent its inlet end. A pair of tabs 36 bent upwardly from theopposite lower sides of this spring form supports for pivot 37 oflocking or control member 38. The upper end of the control member has ashort leg 39 bent inwardly at right angles to the main leg. Pivot pin 37is extended crosswise of the member very close to the right angle bendand serves to. support the member between tabs 36. The free end of leg39 is so positioned with the underlying portion of spring leaf 34 as tohold. the same depressed firmly against the bottom of channel 32 whenthe control member is in its closed position as illustrated in Figure 3.The finger piece 40 provided at the lower end of the longer leg permitsthe operator to pivot the same counter-clockwise through an arc ofapproximately 90 to its open position to allow the free end of spring 34to: flex outwardly away from tube 31 and depression 32 to the dottedposition shown in Figure 3 thereby releasing the filter for replacement.When this has been accomplished, control member 38 is pivoted clockwiseso that leg 39 depressed spring 34. into depression 32 and gathers theunderlying portion of the filter inlet neck circumferentially of thetube 31 and into depression 32 thereby clamping the filter to theadapter tube in an airtight manner. Spring 34 is provided with anopening 41 of the same shape but somewhat larger than boss 33 andpositioned to telescope thereover as it is depressed. And, of course,the side wall ofthe filter inlet neck is provided with a similar opening47 to receive boss 33 as it is seated thereover by the depression ofspring 34.

A more complete and detailed description of the filter adapter as wellas of the filter bag designed for use therewith will be found in myco-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No.333,110 filed on or about January 26, 1953 for improvements in SuctionCleaners now Patent No. 2,710,072 dated June 7, 1955.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be observed that paper filter bag 23comprises a tubular paper envelope having a pair of inwardly projectingpleats 42 extending lengthwise along its opposite sides so that the bagcan be folded flat and compactly for shipment. Both the upper and lowerends of the pleated tube are folded over at 43 and sealed closed so thatthe dirt cannot be removed from the bag but is disposed of along withthe bag. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the opposite longitudinal edgesof the stock used to form the main body overlap one another and areglued or otherwise sealed to the adjacent portions of the body of thebag as indicated at 44, 44 in a manner to form a relatively small inlettube 45. The upper end of tube 45 is, of course, sealed by the upperoverturned end 43 of the body of the bag. The outer side wall 46 of tube45 terminates above the lower end of the bag as best appears in Figure3. 46 forms the entrance end of inlet tube 45 which has a diameterslightly greater than the outer diameter of the seating tube 31.Accordingly, the inlet tube telescopes readily over the end of seatingtube 31 as the filter is assembled to the adapter. Opening 47 which wasreferred to above is located in outer wall 46 of inlet tube 45 and isshaped and positioned as to seat about boss 33 when the filter has beenproperly assembled onto the adapter.

It will therefore be clear that opening 47 cooperates with boss 33 tolock the filter against withdrawal from tube 31 when the filter clamp isclosed but also as a locator means for assuring that the filter isproperly positioned on the adapter both lengthwise and circumferentiallythereof, since spring 34 cannot be closed down about the boss unlessopening 47 is in proper registry therewith.

The adapter assembly also preferably includes a link 43 having its lowerend pivoted to elbow 25 by a pin 49 and its upper end is pivotallyconnected to tube 31 by a Hence, the lower edge of outer'wallpivot pin40. This link 43 permits the adapter tube to ly thereof. The pivotedlinkage also serves to prevent collapse of the bellows due to lateralshifting of the adapter assembly.

The filter adapter and disposable filter bag are enclosed by outerappearance envelope 22 made from porous cloth or the like of a kindpresenting a dressy appearance and serving to conceal and protect thefilter bag the adapter therefor. Envelope 22 may be tailored to presenta trim and pleasing appearance such as that illustrated in Figure 2. Asthis figure makes clear, the bag is entirely closed except for anelongated opening extending lengthwise along the inner side wall of thebag. This bag is so tailored that the wall having this elongated accessopening is shorter than the other walls in order that the edges of theopening may be pulled taut without tensioning the other walls. As shown,the filter access opening 53 is formed by hems 51 and 52 extendingparallel to one another for the full length of the shorter inner wall ofthe envelope 22. Enclosed by these hems is an endless flexible tensionmember or cord 54 having a length equal to or slightly less. than thelength of hems 51 and 52. Note from Figure 2 that the lower ends of hems51 and 52 encircle adapter elbow 25, while the upper ends are firmlyanchored. to a cupped metal reinforcing member 55 extending along thetop inner edge of the appearance bag. The means shown for anchoring thecord to member 55 comprisesa cotter pin 56 extending through on opening57 in member 55 and having its inner ends looped about and bentbackwardly against the inner walls of the reinforming member. The outerlooped end of pin 56 serves as an anchorage for the lower hooked end ofspring 20 the upper end of which is detachably supported on a hook 57carried on the side of the propelling handle.

As made clear'by the drawings, hem52 is spaced inwardly from thelongitudinal edge 58 of a flap 59 which normally overlies and concealsaccess opening 53 as well as hem 51.

Referring. to Figure 3, it will be observed that the lower end of cord54' surroundselbow 25 closely adjacent flange 60. An'annular g'roovesurrounding the elbow in spaced relation tofiange 60 serves, to seat asplit ring keeper 62 which cooperatesrwith flange 60 in holding cord 54seated against displacement along the elbow. Note that flange 6t)projects-sufficiently from the elbow to form an anchorage for a pair ofshouldered rivets or keepers 63, 63. These keepers are closely spacedfrom one another and have large heads which extend through slits orappropriately positioned button hole openings 63' in the wall of. theappearance bag. As Figure 2 makes clear, when keepers 63 are positionedin these button holes, the lower ends-ofhems 51' and 52 are firmlyanchored closely beside one another with the appearance bag pulledsnugly about the adapter elbow in the channel provided thereforebyflange 60Land ring 62.

Operation Let it be assumed that the cleaner is assembled in thecondition shown in Figure 1 with the exception of the paper filterbag.To install the filter, the operator unhookstension spring 20 from hook57 thereby allowing filter accessopening 53 extending the full length ofthe inner face of appearance-bag 22 to open freely completely exposingthefilter adapter 24. Making certain that control lever 38. of thefilter clamp is open, the operator grasps the adapter in the areasurrounding bellows 28 in one hand and pulls the filter inlet tube 45downwardly over the end of seating tube 31 until opening 47 in the sidewall of the inlet neck registers with boss 33 on the adapter tube.Control lever 38 is then pivoted clockwise downwardly against theadaptertube to depress spring strip 34 against the outer,web,46 of the filterinlet. This action gathers the inlet tubeAS into depression 32 so as toform an airtight seal with seating tube 31. Since leg 39 ofcontrol'member 38 is then directly beneath or slightly to one side ofpivot 37, spring 34 is locked in closed position. 7

The assembly is completed merely by inserting the upper end of thefilter bag within appearance bag 22 and re-engaging spring 20 over hook57 on the propelling handle. This last operation places the inner wallof the appearance bag and both runs of cord 54 under tension therebyclosing access opening 53 and holding it closed. Of course, flap 59drapes downwardly over the access opening and completely conceals itfrom view.

The cleaner may now be placed in operation by closing switch 17 to startthe motor for the suction fan unit. Air is drawn upwardly through nozzle11, through the fan chamber and is discharged into the filter bagthrough adapter assembly 24. The dirty air passes upwardly through thetubular inlet 45 and into the main body of the filter bag through anopening in the inner web forming inlet tube 45. The dirt settles to thelower end of the bag while the air escapes through the pores of thefilter bag. The super-atmospheric air pressure within the filter bagproduced by the suction fan causes pleats 42 to open outwardly as thebag inflates. Preferably, the maximum girth of the filter bag isslightly less than that of the appearance bag 22. In consequence, thereis no tendency for the inflated bag to spread apart the opposite edgesof access opening 53 and the same remains as snugly closed under thetension of spring 20 as though it were secured by a positive fasteningdevice.

The pivoting of the propelling handle as the cleaner 1S moved over thefloor swings the entire filter assembly therewith substantially aboutthe axis of exhaust air conduit 21. Of course, elbow 25 is preferablylocked to this conduit and does not pivot. However, the appearance bagdoes swing about the axis of the discharge conduit. At the same time,filter seating conduit 31, bellows 28 and link 48 and the entire filterbag swing freely with the appearance bag about an axis above but closelyadjacent the center of conduit 21.

When the filter bag becomes filled with dirt, it is a simple matter toremove it and install a clean one. The operator merely detaches spring20 from the propelling handle and allows the filter assembly to fall. Assoon as the tension on cord 54 is removed, access opening 53 opensfreely for its full length so that the filter bag can be freely removedtherefrom. Clamping lever 33 is opened allowing spring 34 to flex awayfrom the adapter and release the filter bag so that it can :be readilywithdrawn from tube 31. A new one is inserted over the end of the filteradapter and clamped in place as described above. After making certainthat all parts of the filter are inside the appearance bag, the operatorre-engages spring 20 onto hook 57. This retensions the opposite edges ofaccess opening 53 to hold the same closed without the operator having tooperate any fastening means of any description.

Second embodiment It will, of course, be readily apparent that theinvention may be carried out in various other ways and in particularthat the filter access opening in the appearance bag may be arranged inother locations than the one illustrated and described above. An exampleof an alternate arrangement is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 whereinthe same or similar parts are designated by the same reference characterdistinguished by a prime.

The principal variant is that the access opening to the filter bag isarranged along the top edge of the appearance bag22, and in theelimination of the reinforcing strip 55 employed in the first describedform to maintain a trim and tailored appearance for the appearance bag.As will be observed from Figure 7, hem 52 is located along the uppermostlongitudinal edge of the appearance bag and hem 51' lies directlytherebeneath. This arrangement is facilitated by extending cord 54'slightly beyond the top edge of the bag and looping it around the lowerhook or tension spring 20'. As a consequence, flap 59 overlies and Thedetails of the filter adapter structure are not illus-,

trated but may be identical with those disclosed above or ofany othersuitable type. Note that flange 60 surrounding the base of the adapterelbow is provided with but a single anchor pin 63 since hem 52' liestangent to the upper side of the adapter elbow. This single anchor pinis positioned to hold hem 51' in closely spaced underlying relation tothe upper run, as clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

To expose the filter bag and filter adapter for servicing, the operatormerely detaches spring 20' from hook 57'. The appearance bag immediatelyfalls away to either side of the filter bag completely exposing it aswell as the adapter to which it is attached. The dirty filter isquickly,

detached by opening its holding clamp and withdrawing it from theadapter. Thereafter, a new filter is connected to the adapter andclamped in place. The opposite sides of the appearance bag are thenpulled upwardly around the filter bag and spring 25 is replaced on hook57'. It will, of course, :be appreciated that the tension cord 54 may bereplaced with a rubber cord, taping, elastic strip material, or thelike. Or for that matter, a narrow fold may be formed in the bagmaterial itself and stitched in place as a substitute for the reinforcedhem 52, and hem 51 need not be provided with auxiliary reinforcing sincethe double layer of cloth has been found quite adequate when tensionedlengthwise thereof.

While I have shown and described but two embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are to be taken asillustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to belimited to the particular structure shown and described but to includeall equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner of the floor type having a wheel supported mainbody, a propelling handie pivoted thereto, an exhaust outlet, aresilient bag support attached to the handle adjacent its upper end anda filter assembly communicating at its lower end with the exhaust outletand supported at its upper end from the resilient support and in whichthe filter assembly is in the form of a filter bag and an enclosingappearance envelope, said appearance envelope having an access openingextending lengthwise thereof, flexible tension means secured to saidenvelope along the opposite edges of said access opening, means foranchoring the lower end of said tension means to the cleaner body, meansincluding the resilient support for connecting the upper end of saidtension means to the propelling handle so as to normally hold saidtension means taut and the opposite edges of said access opening tautand closed against one another.

2. An appearance envelope for use on a floor type suction cleaner havingan exhaust air conduit, a pivoted propelling handle, a resilient supportattached to the handl adjacent to its upper end and an adaptor tubehaving an inlet end attached to the exhaust air conduit and an outletend for connection to the inlet of a paper filter bag comprising, atubular air pervious envelope having an opening surrounding and beingattached to said adaptor tube and an access opening extending lengthwisethereof through which the filter bag may be inserted and removed andflexible tension means secured to said envelope along the edges of saidaccess opening, said tension means having detachable means forattachment to the resilient support on the handle whereby said tensionmeans is normally held taut and the edges of said access openings areheld closed against one another and said access opening is freelyexpansible to a wide open position when said tension means is detachedfrom the resilient support.

3. An appearance envelope according to claim 2 in which said tensionmeans comprises a flexible cord an- 7 chored to the wall of saidenvelope adjacent to the edges of said access opening. 7 e

4. An appearance envelope according to claim 3 in which said cord is oflooped form and passes about the adaptor tube at one end of said accessopening.

5. An appearance envelope according to claim 3 in which said cord isanchored to said envelope by being placed within hems formed in the wallof said envelope adjacent the edges of said access opening.

6. An appearance envelope according to claim 5 in which said cord andhems extend about and closely embrace the adaptor tube.

7. An appearance envelope according to claim 2 in which said accessopening is extended so that the edges thereof surround the adaptor tubeand said tension means is looped about the adaptor tube to hold thewalls of said envelope surrounding the adaptor tube in sealing contacttherewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 71,216,015 Tichenor Feb. 13, 1917 1,755,969 Shigyo Apr. 22, 19222,003,720 Meek June 4, 1935 2,317,569 Weaver Apr. 27, 1943 2,467,503Scriven Apr. 19, 1949 2,528,192 Urban Oct. 31, 1950 2,605,493 Vance Aug.5, 1952 2,693,211 Ripple Nov. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,124,964 FranceJuly 9, 1956 :"alignemnt" read alignment --3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION" Patent No. 2,82 ,734 April- 8, 1958 George A.Brace Column 2, line 32, for "outer" read lower line 56, for

column 3, line '73, for "pin 40" read pin 50 column 4, line 27, for "onopening" read an opening lines 29 and 30, for "reinforming" readreinforcing column 6,

after "conceals" insert opening Signed and sealed this 27th day of May1958.

(SEAL) At'fiest-r KARL H; AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting OfficerConmissioner of Patent!"

